Welcome to the PF.STEM_STRUGGLES said:Homework Statement
There is a diving board held up by two pillars A and B, and there is a diver standing on it's edge. What are the directions of the forces exerted at points A and B? Picture Below:
Homework Equations
F_NET = 0
T_NET =0
The Attempt at a Solution
I thought both A and B were pointed upwards since the diver is pushing downwards, but apparently B is upwards and A is downwards.
Oh, wow! I see point B as pointing up now, but what about point A? If I use A as the fulcrum, doesn't that still make it point upwards in order to keep the board from rotating downwards?berkeman said:
B is the fulcrum. Did you never use a see-saw?STEM_STRUGGLES said:
Ok, I'm still confused. Sorry. If B is the fulcrum and it's force is going upwards, I'm still not understanding how A's force is going downwards. Given the see-saw example, the diver is on one end pulling down on the end of the see-saw, and A is somehow pulling downwards even though it's on the bottom? I really appreciate the help!berkeman said:B is the fulcrum. Did you never use a see-saw?
What if the person sitting on the right side of the see-saw is heavier than the person sitting on the left side? What happens to the left side of the see-saw?STEM_STRUGGLES said:
It goes upwards, but I don't know what happens at point A because A is on the underside of the diving board.berkeman said:What if the person sitting on the right side of the see-saw is heavier than the person sitting on the left side? What happens to the left side of the see-saw?
Imagine taking pillar A away. Which way would the part of the board above A move?STEM_STRUGGLES said:
